Dewatering systems and methods

Abstract

A dewatering system for removing solids from an influent includes a filtration assembly and a feed pipe upstream thereof. The dewatering system includes a solids receptacle downstream of the filtration assembly, and an effluent collector adjacent to the filtration assembly and in fluid communication with the filtration assembly. The dewatering system includes a sensor to sense a characteristic of an influent, an effluent and/or a solid. A control system is operatively connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal therefrom and to generate an adjustment signal based on the sensor signal to improve the efficiency of the dewatering system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dewatering system for removing solids from an influent comprising:
 a filtration assembly; 
 a feed pipe upstream from the filtration assembly; 
 a solids receptacle downstream of the filtration assembly; 
 an effluent collector adjacent to the filtration assembly in fluid communication with the filtration assembly; 
 a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of at least one of an influent, an effluent or a solid; and 
 a control system operatively connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal therefrom and to generate an adjustment signal based on the sensor signal to improve the efficiency of the dewatering system, wherein the sensor is operatively connected to the filtration assembly and measures either pressure or strain, or both. 
 
     
     
       2. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected to a conduit upstream from the filtration assembly and downstream from the feed pipe, and wherein the second sensor is a light sensor used to measure at least one of an amount of suspended solids in an influent, a degree of homogeneity in an influent, a degree of flocculation of solids in an influent, or a size of flocculated solid nodules in an influent. 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected to the feed pipe and measures at least one of a density, an amount of suspended solids, turbidity, or a flow rate of an influent. 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected to an influent storage receptacle upstream from the filtration assembly and downstream of the feed pipe, wherein the second sensor is at least one of a level sensor, turbidity sensor or reflectivity sensor. 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a feed pump, a valve or a weir operatively connected to the feed pipe to draw influent into the influent storage receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the filtration assembly includes a drum, an auger positioned within the drum, and a series of spaced apart plates, wherein the sensor measures at least one of pressure or strain of the drum, one or more of the spaced apart plates or the auger. 
     
     
       7. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected to the solids receptacle, wherein the second sensor measures at least one of solid content, moisture content, density, or permissivity to energy. 
     
     
       8. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected between the filtration assembly and the solids receptacle, wherein the sensor measures at least one of solid content, moisture content, density, or permissivity to energy. 
     
     
       9. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor operatively connected to the effluent collector, wherein the second sensor measures at least one of an amount of suspended solids, turbidity, color, density, or interruption of a light or laser beam in effluent discharged from the filtration assembly. 
     
     
       10. The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a motor operatively connected to the filtration assembly and a second sensor operatively connected to the motor, wherein the second sensor measures at least one of torque, amperage draw, rotational speed, temperature or power factor of the motor. 
     
     
       11. A method for adjusting a dewatering system that removes liquid from an influent, the method comprising:
 determining a characteristic of at least one of an influent, an effluent or a solid in a dewatering system; and 
 adjusting an operating parameter of the dewatering system based on the characteristic of at least one of the influent, the effluent or the solid in the dewatering system, and 
 determining a characteristic of a filtration assembly downstream from a conduit by receiving signal from a sensor operatively connected to a filtration assembly, wherein the signal is indicative of stress or strain, or both, wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting the operating parameter based on the characteristic of the filtration assembly. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting a chemical dosing provided to the dewatering system. 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting an influent feed rate from an influent storage receptacle to a filtration assembly downstream from the influent storage receptacle. 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting the speed of an element in a filtration assembly downstream from an influent storage receptacle. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting the feed rate of an influent to the dewatering system through an influent feed pipe by adjusting at least one of (i) the speed of a feed pump operatively connected to the influent feed pipe, (ii) the opening or closing of a valve operatively connected to the influent feed pipe, or (iii) the raising or lowering of a weir operatively connected to the influent feed pipe. 
     
     
       16. The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein determining a characteristic of the influent includes receiving a signal from a second sensor operatively connected to at least one of an influent feed pipe, an influent storage receptacle, or a conduit, wherein the second sensor is at least one of a light sensor, a level sensor, density sensor, or flow rate sensor. 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein determining a characteristic of the solid includes determining a characteristic of the solid in a solids receptacle downstream from the conduit by receiving signal from a second sensor, wherein the second sensor measures at least one of solid content, moisture content, density, or permissivity to energy, wherein adjusting the operating parameter of the dewatering system includes adjusting the operating parameter based on the characteristic of the solid in the solids receptacle. 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein determining a characteristic of the influent includes measuring at least one of torque, amperage draw, rotational speed, temperature or power factor of a motor operatively connected to the dewatering system. 
     
     
       19. A dewatering system for removing solids from an influent comprising:
 a filtration assembly; 
 a feed pipe upstream from the filtration assembly; 
 a solids receptacle downstream of the filtration assembly; 
 an effluent collector adjacent to the filtration assembly in fluid communication with the filtration assembly; 
 a sensor configured to sense a characteristic of at least one of an influent, an effluent or a solid; and 
 a control system operatively connected to the sensor to receive a sensor signal therefrom and to generate an adjustment signal based on the sensor signal to improve the efficiency of the dewatering system, wherein the filtration assembly includes a drum, an auger positioned within the drum, and a series of spaced apart plates, wherein the sensor measures at least one of pressure or strain of the drum, one or more of the spaced apart plates or the auger.